Diabetes and a Foggy Brain

“Today was embarrassing at work” said my 59 year-old husband Don, after he got home from work. “Why?” I asked. “I just couldn’t think today. No matter what I did, I just couldn’t remember things that I was told to do.” So I learned this week that my husband is having clarity of mind issues, a foggy brain! He now carries a tablet and pen with him.

“I’m really afraid to drive” he said. I just don’t remember where I was going or what I was going to pick up for parts for the job and people just stared at me as if something was wrong with me at the store.” Don said. Of course, I’m sure the staring was just him thinking people were staring at him at the store when he stopped for something for work, but he has been forgetting more and more these past few weeks.

Coming home from church on Sunday, Don said, “I’m ok to drive, but I’m not seeing the wording clearly on the signs at all.” I’m alarmed that something is going on with him, and isn’t normal. Driving with diabetes issues such as low blood sugar or high blood sugar can be dangerous if the diabetes isn’t managed.

Do these symptoms come from having type 2 diabetes? Are the symptoms that he is experiencing due to having some other complication? How about fibromyalgia? He also has been stumbling over some words or sentences, and at times, I finished his sentence. Is this due to lack of sleep? How can he improve his sleep? Is he getting enough oxygen? Why is he so fatigued? Why does he have joint stiffness and muscle aches? Why the numbness and tingling in the face. Why does he have difficult swallowing when it is meal time? How about fibromyalgia which he has been diagnosed with a few years ago? Maybe? These issues are bringing on anxiety, stress and depression for him too, as he awaits answers of tests that were taken recently. In turn, it brings concerns for me as well, as his caregiver. His concerns affect my health too, such as in my own stress, depression, sleep issues, and my own aches, pains and struggles, day or night.

One test at the doctor came back with saying he didn’t have neuropathy. However, his week-long symptoms of a foggy brain, confusion in remembering things of recent activities, pain on the side of his face, a burning hot ear and one side of the face, and face numbness for a week, has made Don frustrated for answers. He underwent a two-hour deep brain MRI this week and results are to be given yet. We are anxious for answers! The technician told him when he left that he can expect to have this two-hour MRI test again soon. Now we are wondering why she would say that.

“Oh, by the way, I can’t find my cell phone,” he added one day earlier in the week. “I think I left it at work on the desk.” He refused my help to drive him to get it. So he proceeded to drive the 15 minutes back to work to get it, and back home another 15 minutes, even after he said he is afraid to drive. He had forgotten to make a few necessary phone calls during his work day, such as calling the insurance company and contacting the specialist that he was seeing for his results of his first test, so he needed his phone to make the calls. He couldn’t use my phone because he didn’t remember the numbers.

Don also shared that during his work day, he remembered telling his boss in full detail about his tractor and trailer truck accident in 1985, but he couldn’t remember what the boss just asked him to do 2 minutes before he told the story. He was having short-term memory loss and was embarrassed about it. He was to fax a paper to the boss, and he did that; but didn’t remember that he followed through, and couldn’t remember even what the task was. “I just walked down to the plant at the quarry and asked him what he just asked me to do,” he said. “That was quite embarrassing and I really felt stupid asking him.”

Don has said that the co-workers are helping him with things now as they realize something medically is going on with him. However, doctor’s tests aren’t revealing what is actually going on. I suggested that he should ask the doctor about the possibility of the beginnings of Alzheimers, but Don claims it isn’t that.

Following dinner, as I cleaned up the table, Don said to me, “When you are done with the dishes, remind me to tell you about Jim.” “Ok” I said. So when I finished up the kitchen work, I asked him, “What were you going to tell me about Jim?” He then proceeded to tell me about my cousin who is working in the area. Ok, this was a brief bit of news, and I proceeded to go to my computer to work on this blog. Only a minute later, he hollered from the room, “Did I tell you about Jim yet?” Yes, he just did; and he literally forgot that quickly! So, here I am, working on my blog and adding in this share story about his foggy brain and forgetfulness.

So, as a caregiver, I’m keeping a watchful eye on him and his behavior. Also, I spent time researching possible solutions in helping him and the following is information from one resource that I have found. I never know if his symptoms could lead to a stroke, a heart issue, or if his symptoms stem from fibromyalgia, sleep apnea or something else.

Don did have a checkup at the family doctor as a follow-up with his diabetes management, this week. The doctor suggested that he may have a mass in his brain that may be causing his strange symptoms. This news did not delight Don at all, and just upped his stress level and worries. However, I keep reminding him that things are in God’s hands and we just need to exercise our faith all the more!

Sometimes, Don doesn’t relay to me what is going on, but today, he texted me from work saying “not having a good day”, and this is 8:30 a.m. He just got to work at 7 a.m. I know it has to be a physical bad day for him. He is awaiting the results of his brain MRI any time, too. So, I continue to research about foggy brain and we can try new things to try to treat this problem he is having.

There is lots of research showing that essential fatty acids are indeed “essential” for normal brain function; so oils that would be helpful in addition to coconut oil would be omega 3 (fish), omega 6 (evening primrose) and omega 9 (olive), together with lecithin (which is phosphatidylcholine – i.e. the main component of all cell membranes).

Oils to treat foggy brain and dementia with a suggested regime to start off would be:

Hemp oil which has the right proportion of omega 6 to 3 (4 to 1) (ensures membranes are of perfect consistency – not too stiff, not too elastic).

Hemp oil is near enough perfect with a ratio of 3.8 to 1 of omega 6 to 3. However, there are combinations of other oils one can use in case allergy gets in the way! Ideally, all these oils should be organic. A very delicious way to take coconut oil is first to melt it in a warm place, then stir in organic cocoa powder (Green and Black’s), possibly a teaspoon of D-ribose – allow to cool and go hard – and hey presto! – perfect chocolate! You may have to vary the ingredients according to taste; but what is liked is 1/3 pot (150grams) coconut oil with 1/2 pot cocoa powder (60grams) and a teaspoon of D-ribose!

Throughout life, the brain creates a million new connections every second! This means there is huge potential for healing and repair; it is simply a case of moving things in the right direction! But the brain has to have the optimum energy supply to allow this process to happen!

However, eating healthy and including exercise in your day can help with management of your diabetes and may help solve problems of symptoms you are experiencing. However, when you experience unusual symptoms, it is best to seek the advice of a doctor or specialist. Hopefully, when I write next time, I can present good news from Don’s tests and an improvement of health.

So, in saying this, hopefully my husband will try something new as suggested by researches and doctors to solve his problem; and it may just improve his brain fog and pain issues. Maybe his strange symptoms are a result of his medications. Maybe finding ways to improve his sleep, getting sufficient oxygen, and losing some weight can help. Don claims that his pain and numbness is stemming from his neck, head, and shoulder areas and says he knows his body. I suggested he try ice and heat to help with inflammation. He sneered at my suggestion without even thinking of trying something it. I wonder how these extra health issues are affecting his diabetes management as well! But hey, he says I’m not a doctor; so does my opinion count or is worth trying? I hope so! What do you think?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Donna Gibson

I am Donna Gibson, 50, a country girl from rural Williamsburg, Penn., raised on a dairy farm, and I have seven siblings.
I have a passion for so many things. I love raising flowers, and I do vegetable...read more